Porsche comes to Jamaica in May

Singer Janis Joplin's wildly painted 1964 Porsche 356C Cabriolet, estimated at more than US$400,000, is displayed during a preview of the "Driven by Disruption" sale at Sotheby's, in New York in December last year.

ATL Automotive will begin delivering the Porsche brand of cars to Jamaica by May and in another few weeks will create two state-of-the-art sales and service facilities on Oxford Road in Kingston and Bogue in Montego Bay, St James, to house the cars, the dealer said.

The dealership comes out of an exclusive partnership with Porsche AG.

ATL parted company with Jaguar and Land Rover in August 2015, and since then, has been on the hunt for an ultra-luxury brand to add to the premium luxury brands it sells, including Audi.

Last year, it was reported that ATL had snagged a dealership for BMW and MINI, the roll-out of which started in February with a formal opening on February 22 at Orchard Road, St Andrew.

Porsche is one of the most sought-after brands in the world and has maintained iconic status since it first rolled off the production line 65 years ago.

ATL Group Chief Executive Officer Adam Stewart believes the addition of that brand in the line-up is good for Jamaican motorists who want to acquire that type of vehicle.

"This high-value, premium brand fits perfectly with our existing Volkswagen Group brands - Audi and Volkswagen - while representing a never-seen-before exclusivity in Jamaica. These automobiles are simply stunning and will be available for Jamaica's most discerning motorists." Stewart said.

With Porsche coming off a record-breaking year in 2015, having delivered over 200,000 vehicles to its customers world-wide, the brand enjoys a big reputation and is considered home to some of the best performance and luxury vehicles. ATL says having Porsche is an impressive and exclusive addition to its line-up.

PROVEN BRAND

ATL Automotive Group General Manager Matthew Cripps says Porsche has proven itself as a top car brand and has expanded its scope to provide drivers with various automotive options, while staying true to their roots of unique design, innovative solutions and luxury and performance standards.

"From May, we will be proud to offer Jamaicans a diverse range of models, including a sports sedan in the Panamera, a compact crossover in the Macan, a mid-sized SUV in the Cayenne and coupes in the legendary 911 and the Cayman - all backed by highly trained technicians and the first-rate after-sales support these cars and their owners deserve," Cripps said.

There was no indication of the likely cost of the models to be offered, but ATL is promising to position itself to gain more market share in the premium luxury-car market.